Description

They generally love to travel and tell of their travels through song or story and possess a unique type of magic linked to their poems and music. Bards tend not to be tied to any particular homeland. Instead, they wander and gain life experience to write more songs and increase their repertoire, which increases their combative abilities.

Most bards make a living from pleasing people with their various performing arts, but their unique powers can also be turned to warfare. Bards can make excellent spies, scouts, and negotiators because of their power, charisma, and traveling skills. However, they can also be evil, using their dark experiences and will to manipulate others into their service or extract information. As many bards tend to be neutral during times of conflict, it is not uncommon to see a bard on the royal payroll or as a hero's paid follower. After all, who ever heard of a hero (or villain) without a story?

Combat Style

In Terms of Roleplaying/Dueling

Due to the flexibility of the bard’s practice, they can use a wide range of weapons, including melee and missile, or may prefer to rely on their bardic magic. As with any other hybrid class that permits dual fighting styles, a higher physical combat ability is usually compensated for with lower magical ability to prevent godmodding, and vice versa.

Bards are able to use various instruments, or in some cases use their own bodies as conduits, to channel their unique magic with varying effect, such as healing, elemental manipulation, or other such magical effects.

An example of how to balance magic and physical traits: A bard that practices primarily in writing poetry or other stories will generally have lower physical strength than a bard that performs enchantments through dance. The poet, however, may cast spells in greater concentration.